When a home feels a little too cold in winter or a bit too warm in summer, the windows are often part of the reason. These 8 small upgrades can make a big difference without the need to stretch your budget too far…
From birds and hedgehogs to bees and ladybugs, our gardens are teeming with wildlife that need a cosy place to shelter in the winter. Here are some practical ideas & DIY projects that’ll help welcome + protect them in the colder weather…
If you have a garden, it’s lovely to be able to enjoy it during the autumn. On those crisp sunny days, you can head outside knowing that you’ve got a gorgeous space to relax in. Here are some small tasks for your gardening to-do list this season:
If you want to create a garden, you don’t need a huge budget to create something special. You just need to be willing to put in some hard work on a regular basis and consider these three thrifty elements…
This is a fun idea for your next party – painting pots and planting them up with pretty plugs! Here’s how to plan and prepare for a birthday gathering with your friends or family, from the youngest children to grown-up gardening fans…
If the lovely weather has got you yearning for some garden-based fun with your friends or family, here are some ideas to help you plan the perfect games day and save some money at the same time…
If you’re looking for fun ideas of crafts to do and sweet treats to bake over the long Easter bank holiday weekend, here’s a round-up of top activities, creative makes and yummy bakes to try with your family…
If you want to grow your own veggies or fancy adding a splash of colour with spring flowers but don’t have much space in your courtyard or balcony, here are some tips on planting up a small space to achieve your gardening goals…
From stress-busting to getting physical, there are so many ways that gardening is beneficial for your mind and body. So, if you’re thinking of taking up a new hobby this year, how about heading out into the garden and growing something…
Growing your own fruit and veg can be a handy way to cut the cost of your weekly food shop, along with bringing health and nutrition benefits. So, if you’d like to get started on planting up your plot, here are some seeds that’ll feed your family for just a few pennies…
If you’re working from home but don’t yet have a dedicated space in the house for your desk, why not consider going into the garden? Here are three unique options to create a home office in the garden that’ll help you be more productive…
As the sun shines brightly in the British sky, our thoughts turn to the great outdoors and the quintessential summer gathering: the BBQ. But what makes a BBQ area truly special? Here are some ideas for your turning your garden into a barbeque haven…
Having your own personal space is a huge deal, especially when it comes to homes. Ensuring privacy for your family gives them peace of mind and a calm feeling of safety. Here are some simple home improvement ideas that’ll help…
As great as owning a home is, it also comes with a lot of responsibilities and you’ll need to look after your house if you want to keep it in a livable condition. Here are a few simple tasks that are easy to do regularly and can really help maintain your lovely home…
Spring cleaning isn’t just for your house. It can be for your garden too, especially if you haven’t used your outdoor space all winter. Here are some quick and easy ways to refresh your backyard to make the most of it this Spring…
When you’re not spending as much time in the garden during the autumn and winter, it’s the ideal opportunity to give your outdoor furniture a revamp, ready for next spring. Here’s how to upcycle cast iron bench ends…
Did you know that many insects hibernate in the colder months? So, why not build them a bug hotel to take shelter in during the autumn and winter? This cool cloud-shaped DIY bug hotel is easy to make from recycled metal cans…
If your patio chairs or garden benches are looking a little worse for wear after years in your backyard, why not give them a fresh makeover with some seaside-inspired stripes? Here’s a step-by-step video to show you how I upcycled my Adirondack seats for summer…
If you’re looking for ways to boost your wellbeing at home, here are some ideas for bring nature indoors to create a calm and happy home for yourself and your whole family…
If you love the idea of enjoying some time outdoors this summer but just can’t face all the chores that come with maintaining a garden, here are three ideas that’ll help you create a space with zero ongoing effort…
Turn your garden, deck or courtyard into a perfect place for al fresco entertaining with this outdoor sideboard project, upcycled from an old buffet and plenty of reclaimed pallet wood…
If you fancy growing your own veg at home this year, you don’t need to order loads of seeds and sets. Did you know that you can regrow your own veg from kitchen scraps? Here are some ideas to get your veggie patch started…
If you fancy adding a unique piece of furniture to your garden, why not have a go at making this outdoor sofa? I’ve upcycled four pallets to create this two-person garden bench. Here’s how…
Add a touch of privacy to your patio with this two-in-one planter and trellis screen. Follow this step-by-step DIY project to make your own planter using upcycled pallets.
Well, actually, the plot expands. We’ve taken on a larger allotment so that we can grow even more of our own fruit and veg this year. Here are our plans for the bigger veggie patch…
Now that it’s winter and the ground is frozen over, what CAN still be done on the allotment? I’ve shared a rather frosty update to let you know how my veggie patch is getting on…
If you’re planning a Christmas gathering at home and want to make your garden look just as inviting as your interior, here are a few ideas for decorating your garden with fairy lights to create cosy ambience and festive feel…
An eco-friendly home can actually save you money in the long run and there are so many things you can do to make your property more sustainable – from DIY tasks to impressive installations. Here are a few ideas to get you started…
We’ve had a bumper harvest at the allotment this year – especially with our fruit trees, squashes and tomatoes. So, I’ve been preserving as much as I can and I’m sharing some ideas for your using and storing your allotment produce today…
After many months of wrangling with pests, birds, bugs (and even bunnies!) at my allotment, I’ve decided to try out some tunnels to see if they can help us to grow bigger and better veggies…
I’ve noticed something that almost all the allotments near me have in common. They’re all packed with upcycling projects. In fact, you’d probably find it hard to find anything new! Here are some of the interesting and amazing upcycles I’ve spotted at the allotment…
I’m back with another allotment update and today it’s all about my new (old) greenhouse. It took quite some doing but we’ve been able to move the ivy-covered, cracked-glass frame to my veggie plot and have made some improvements…
Playing in the garden and getting really messy is one of the joys of childhood. So why not help your children to enjoy playing with sand, mud and water outside by constructing this DIY ‘mud kitchen’ from old pallet wood…
My little allotment is coming along nicely so I thought now would be a good time to share a quick update. We’ve been tidying the plot, making some repairs to the fence and shed, and have even planted some veggies – here are some pics of progress…
If you want to grow your own veg but without the hard labour of digging over a veggie patch, here’s a quick and easy DIY video that’ll show you how to build no-dig beds for your garden or allotment…
It’s the perfect time of year to revamp your old bird boxes and pop them up in the garden. Why? Well, now that it’s February, your feathered friends will soon be looking for a nice nesting box to make their home for the spring…
Although there haven’t been many things to harvest this month, I have still been out in the garden preparing the veggie plot and planting our over-winter crops…
This month, I’ve been preserving my apple harvest so I’ve shared a recipe for cinnamon apple jam below if you want to give it a go. Plus, there have been a few vegetable latecomers this year…
I want to make the most of the warm autumn days by getting outside and relaxing in my garden, so I’ve created a copy spot for a cuppa on my decking with a DIY living coffee table planter…
Did you know that shopping seasonally doesn’t only apply to food? When you buy any product there will be a cheaper season to buy it and you can make some impressive savings by purchasing at the right time of year. Here are some items that you’ll definitely get a deal on in September…
Late summer/early autumn is a lovely time of year – the weather is still warm (but not too hot) and there’s plenty of plants still blooming in the garden. This combination makes it an ideal time for outdoor entertaining so here are some tips to make sure your gathering is cosy and fun…
During August we’ve been enjoying the fruits of our labour with plenty of veg to harvest but we’ve also dealt with blight, non-ripening peppers & fruit trees desperate in need of pruning. Here’s how we got on & more info on the DIY greenhouse we built…
With the sun shining and summer still in full swing, I thought that today would be a great time to share a garden tour of Isatu Chaborn’s incredible property, including a ‘before’ and ‘after’ of the epic transformation.
We’ve all been spending more time in the garden lately so, if your garden furniture that could do with sprucing up, here are some tips to restore your outdoor furniture so you don’t have to replace it, but rather extend the life of your garden items…
2021 marks the 10th Anniversary of the My Thrifty Life blog and I’m excited to tell you what celebrations I’m planning and how you can get involved..!
I can finally report that we have been enjoying some veg from our kitchen garden! The plot is doing well, so much so that we’ve had to start freezing the excess produce! Here’s an update on this month’s bumper harvest…
Here’s a quick DIY video that shows you how to upcycle scaffold boards and offcuts of pressure-treated timber to create your own outdoor bench seat for your garden. Using scaffolding is a low-cost source of timber and you can upcycle old planks too…
When the sun’s shining and the weather warms up it’s wonderful to enjoy the sights and sounds of the season – whether that’s in your garden or from inside your home. Here are 4 ways to achieve that indoor-outdoor vibe in your own home this summer…
I’m sure it’s the same for everyone but I feel like our garden is SO behind compared to last year! I’ve finally been able to plant out some of the hardier veggies but we’ve also built a DIY cold frame from pallet wood to keep growing our seedlings…
One of the best things about blogging is that sometimes I will get a message from someone who has read my blog and was inspired by one of my projects. Today I’m sharing some of the awesome upcycles & DIYs that YOU guys have made – aren’t they fantastic??
You know how something isn’t a problem until you notice it? A feature so functional that you barely see it but then realise it’s not to your taste or could be improved? Well that’s how I feel about my front door, which is why I’ve decided to revamp it…
I finally feel like things are happening in our garden now. Looking back over the month of April, I’m actually surprised by how much we’ve got done, even though there’s not much in the way of veggies yet! Here’s the veg we planted & projects we built…
How have you found working from home? Have you actually enjoyed it? Have you got more work done? Would you like to continue living the laptop lifestyle? If you’ve become a fan of WFH maybe now’s the time to commit & create a home office for yourself…
Hooray, the clocks have gone forward, the days are brighter, & the weather is getting warmer. I’m super excited about planting up the veggie patch so this month I’ve been sowing seeds & making plans to attract more wildlife to our garden too…
What are your ‘lockdown lessons’? Do you have some fab food hacks or top kitchen tips? I was so chuffed when my own grow-your-own veggie patch project was highlighted by FoodSavvy earlier this week so here’s my lockdown allotment story…
After growing our own fruit & veg in our garden for the 1st time in 2020, this year I’m making plans for a kitchen garden that’ll (hopefully) provide all the fresh produce we’ll need. Here’s my monthly veggie plot update for February (with lots of snow!)
This time last year, we built our first veggie patch in the garden with the intention of growing our own fruit and veg. Now, in the frosty mornings of January I’m outside digging & indoors sowing. Here’s how we got on last year & our 2021 progress so far:
After a long summer relaxing at home and in the garden there will no doubt be a few maintenance tasks that need doing. Some can be added to your spring cleaning list, but others would be good tackle now to keep you safe & happy over the winter months…
Seeing as the majority of items in my home & wardrobe are second-hand (or rescued from a skip), Recycle Week gives me a chance to shout about all the fab things you can make from unwanted furniture or waste materials – such as these fun upcycling DIYs…
If you haven’t got much space but want to create a summery display in your garden, why not plant up a wheelbarrow? You could also encourage children to get involved in planting up their own mini ‘fairy allotment’ garden. Here’s how…
Ever since I began growing my own fruit and vegetables in my garden, I’ve been so much more aware of the seasonality of produce. Here’s why you should eat seasonal veg and a brunch quiche recipe to use up those fresh new potatoes…
If you fancy saving money on decking but still want to get a good result in your garden, I’ve shared a step-by-step guide to make this deck for yourself – using pallet wood…
We have a brick outbuilding that has seen better days so I wanted to spruce up the exterior a little to make it look a little nicer in our garden. Here are some photos of my quick DIY makeover…
If you’re spending more time in the garden at the moment, here’s how to combine relaxation & plant growing to get the most out of your garden (of any size!) this summer…
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden – whatever the size and shape – there are many things that you can do to turn your garden into a haven for wildlife. Here are some tips to get you started…
If you’ve spotted my pallet bar around the internet (and on the TV now, thanks to Kirstie Allsopp!) you may be interested to see today’s pallet project – a Spanish-style wine tavern pallet bar with summery stenciled pattern…
When my pallet bar popped up on the TV last week, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It appeared on Kirstie and Phil’s Love It or List It show and I am chuffed to bits! Here’s a video of that exciting moment..!
If you’re a big fan of house plants like me, here’s a quick and easy DIY plant nursery unit that you can make to keep all your cuttings, off-shoots and baby plants safe and cosy while they grow. You can choose a cabinet to suit the style of your home, and it looks pretty darn cool too! Here’s how to do it…
When I found a few brick pallets in a building site skip (and asked if it would be okay to re-use them!) my mind starting whirring at the possible projects they could be used for. The result is this kids’ mud kitchen and I thought I’d share the step-by-step project with you today…
You may have spotted a sneaky peek of my scaffold board table in my blog post about building rustic benches for my garden but today I’m sharing the step-by-step tutorial with you so that you can have a go at making a DIY scaffolding table for yourself…
